Atjtomobile-bompeb



m f m Wfi 1mm w w M L BAUMGARTL AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

APPLICATION man mm. 1. 1921.

L. BAUMGARTL. AUTOMOBHE QUMPER. APPUCATION ESLED MAR. 1 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 14, 1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY BAUMGARTL. OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS.

AU'roMoinLE-BUMPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 7, 1921. Serial No. 450,271.

To a]! Hlmm if may (mow-n Be it known that l. LnnoY lnuguuairrlr, a eitizen of t' nited States. and a re ident of Chicago, in the rounty of Cook and State 3 of lllinois. have invented eertain new and useful Improrenn its in Automobile-lblmpers. of whieh the following is a speeitieation.

This inventiom relates to improvements in automobile bumpers. and similar deviees for protecting a motor rehiele against damage in the event of collisions with other vehieles or obstacles.

The type of bumper to whieh the present invention pertains is similar to that dis 1;) elosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. Lilith-U granted to me on July 13. 1920.

Among the, objects of the present invention is to provide for eertain refinements and impro ed features of eonstruetion direeted especia ly to the struetural arrangmnent of the parts. with a view to inereasing the ability of the strueture. to withstand the wear and tear to whieb devires of this ebar aeter are subjeeted. In short. it'is proposed to provide a more prartieal bumper embodying the prineiples set t'orth in the above mentioned patent. preferred diselosure of a bumper embodying the invention is set -forth in the, aerompanying drawings. in

: which- Figure 1 is a top plan view oi the bumper as attached to a motor rehiele.

Fig. 2 is a similar View in front elevation. v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a single eylinder. showing the ronneetion between the same and the impart memben Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a single eylinder showing the parts in diti'er- 40 ent positions. and

Fig. is a view in rertiral seetion of the evlinder taken on line 5-41 of Fig. 4.

' Referring to the t-general features of the bumper. the same eoinprises an impart mem- 5 her lextending horizontally in tront of the \ehiele. supporting members eaeb attaehed at the forward ends of the frame members 3-41 of the \ehiele. eaeb of the supporting members eomprising a vertieallv 0 disposed eylinder or easing -l. loeated immediately beyond the adjaeent trameIple-mher 3. and eoniprising. among other parts, an arm 5 extending radially and in a forward and lateral direetion toward the impactmrmber 1, As will hereinafter be pointed out. the arm 5 of each supporting member is adapted to be swung or rotated about the rertiral axis of the evlinder 4, and in a direction toward the rehiele; the w ng ng or rotatire movement of the arm being resisted by a yieldable member hereinal'ter to be described. The outer ends of the arms are eonneeled to the impact member by means of links (iti arranged in parallel relation to eaeh other. and normally at right angles to the said impart member.

Referring first to the structure of the impart member. the same preferably eomprises two parallel bars T-7 spared apart vertieally. and having the form oi angle bars eonueeted together at their ends. and at suitable points intermediate their ends by means of spaeer bloeks 8. The formation of the separate bars 'T7 is sueh as to provide a relatively non-resilient or part reeeiring member. impart member 1 are preferably eurved rearw'ardly. as is eommon in automobile blunpers.

As before suggested. the supportingmemhers eomprise the easing 4 and the arms 5. Referring now to a more detailed deseriptinn ol' the strileture oi eaeh ot' the supporting members. the main supporting element thereof is a rertieally disposed eylindrieal housing l of east metal eonstruetion. loeated immediately forward of the frame member 3. and fixed thereto by means of a lll'itt'lilt h eonsisting of an arrangement of plates adapted to be elamped or bolted to the l'rau emember. these plates in turn being bolted to the housing l. through the medium ol ears Sl integral \vith the housing. and bolts ill--10 passing through said ears and.the 'l'orwaril pair of, plates of the braeket h. .\s elearly shown in Fig. the housing 4 is hollow and ineloses a yieldable impart resisting member baring the form of a eompartirelr stiltbelieal spring ll.

The top of the housing 4- is surmounted by a rotatire eap 12. of wbirh the radial arm 5 bereinlmfore referred to. is an integral part. The lower end of the housing -l"'is rinsed in a similar manner by means oi a rap member l3. although the latter is normally nmi-rotatire with respeet to the easing -l. the non-rotatire eonneetion between the parts being provided for by an arrange ment of interlocking teeth along the abutnoirtlexible im; The ends of the ting edges of the housing and. the lower cap member 13, as shown at 14 in Figs. 3 and 5. Extending axially of the casing, through the upper and lower cap members 12 and 13 respectively, is a bolt or spindle 15 acting to connect said cap members to the housing, as well as forming a bearing for the upper cap member 12. The lower end of the bolt 15 projects from the casing, and is surmounted by a nut 16, the same permitting the removal of the bolt 15 for the purpose of disassembling the casing or ad'ustin the tension in the spring 11, as will hereinafter be pointed out. The upper end of the spring 11 is fixed to the rotative cap member 12, preferably by inserting its end within an opening formed within a depending boss 12 at the base of said cap member. In a similar manner, the lower end of the spring 11 is fixed to the lower cap member 13; namely, by inserting the lower extremity of the spring within a recess 13 formed in the outer wall of said cap member 13.

As before indicated, the outer or free ends of the arms 5-5 are connected to the impact member through the medium of the links 6-6, each of these links 6 consisting of bar having pivotal connection at its ends with the members connected thereby. As a preferable construction, and by reason of the structure of the impact member 1, the outer portion of each link 6 is forked or bifurcated, thus forming two vertically spaced arms 66"', which extend between 'the bars 77 of the impact member 1, and

engage flatwise against the rearwardly pro jecting horizontal webs 7-7" thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. A bolt 17 extends through the webs 7-7 and the extremities of the forked portion 66 of the link 6, and serves to pivotally connect the parts togcther. Each link 6 is pivotall connected with the outer end of its associated arm 5 by means of a short pivot bolt 18. It is ob- \lOllS that by an arrangement of parts such as described, the bumper, and parts thereof, assumes the normal position as shown in Fig. 1; namely, with the arms 5-43 of the supporting members extending laterally and outwardly in opposite directions toward the adjacent ends of the impact member, and

obliquely to the general direction in which a blow would ordinarily be directed against the impact member. In normal position of the bumper, the links 6--6 are substantially parallel to each other, and at right angles to the impact member. If a blow is received by the impact member, the force of the impact is transmitted to the links 6-43, and thence to the arms 5-5, with the result that the latter are swung or rotated in a rearward direction about the bolt or spindle 15, the amount of swinging movement of eacharm being proportional to the distribution of the and the rotative movement of the arm 5 and the cap member 12. The resistive action of the spring has already been suggestednamely, a torsional resistance as distinguished from a compressive or expansive resistance.

In order to limit the relative rotative movement between the links 6-6 and the arms 5-5, there is provided on the under side of the arm 5 and at a point removed ll}! wardly from the outer end thereof, a lug or stop member 20 (Fig. 4). Cooperating with this lug there is formed a curvilinear sector 21 along the adjacent end portion of the link 6, together with stop shoulders 22-22 at opposite ends of said sector 21. The length of the sector 21, and therefore the spacing of'the stop shoulders 2222, is predetermined by the amount of swinging movement of the arm 5 from normal position to its position of maximum displacement under impact. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4 the lug E20 engages the stop shoulder 22 ot the link 6, adjacent the extremity thereof, when the parts are in normal position. as shown in full lilies, and when the arm has been swung to the dotted line position under the force of impact, the lug 20 engages the opposite stop shoulder 22, thus preventing further movement between the arm 5 and its associated link 6. The presence of the stop shoulders and lug provides a somewhat more rigid construction, as well as limits the angle that the arm 5 and link 6 may be flexed in the displacement of the parts under the force of an impact delivered against the impact member 1.

It is further manifest that the capacity of the spring to resist or absorb the force of impact transmitted thereto is dependent not on y upon the size of the spring, but likewise upon the initial tension at which the spring is set. In. other words, the greater the initial tension, the greater the amount of force that may be resisted by the spring in a given displacement or swinging movement of the arm 5. In order that provision.

mayl be made for varying the initial tension in t e spring 11, the cap member 13, to which the lower extremity of the spring is anchored, is capable of rotative adjustment with respect to the casing as heretofore pointed out. By removing the nut 16 at th till lower end of the spindle 15. it is possible to diseonnect the parts and to disengage the interlocking teeth suliieientlv to rotate the lower Cap 13 in either direction. depending on whether or not more or less initial tension is required in the spring. The adjustment having been made. and the parts locked togethe again. the nut 16 is replaced and the spring is again in operative condition.

As has been heretofore pointed out. the basic principle of operation disclosed in the patent before mentioned, has not been departed from. although several improved features have been added thereto. which are believed to provide a more practical device, and one that is better titted to 'tultil the demands made upon a protective impart resisting structure. l hese features have been pointed out in detail. as well as the advantages thereof. and it is to these improved Features that the appended claims are direeted. I

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a hamper. the combination of an impact member. and supporting members thcrt for adapted for attachment to the frame of a vehicle, and comprising arms adapted to swing about one end thereof. links connecting the free, ends oi said arms with said im pa t member. and yieldable members operatively connected with said arms and acting to resist the swinging movement of said arms under the force of impact against said impact member.

:2. In a bumper. the combination of an impart member. supporting members adapted for atitarhnient to the frame (ii a vehicle. each of said supporting members comprising a radially swinging arm. a link connecting the free end of said arm with the impact member. and a spring connected with said arm and acting to yieldinglv resist the swinging movement of said arm under the l'orce of impact against said impact member. In a bumper. the combination of an impa t member. supporting members adapt ed for attachment to the frame ol a vehicle. and comprising an arm rotative about a vertical axis. a link rouneetiug said arm with tho impact member adjacent the end thereolgand a spring connected with said arm and acting to oppose thev rotation thereof on dcr the force of impact against the impact member.

-l. bump' r comprising an impart member. a supporting member adapted for at.- tachmcnt to the l'rame of a vehirle. andcomprising a housing. an arm extending radially from said housing and rotativc about the axis thereof. a link connecting the arm with said impart member. a spring mounted in '|ll4l housing and conner'lcd with said arm and said housing. and means for adjusting the tension of said spring;

P'- Jt bumper comprising an impact memher. a supporting member adapted tor attarlnnent to the tra me of a vehicle. and comprising a vertically disposed easing, a ro-' tative rap member mounted at one end oi said casing having an integral arm projecting radially from said cap member. and having pivotal connection with said impact member, a helical spring mounted in said casing. and connected at one end with said casing, a normally non-rotative cap member mounted at the opposite end of said casing, and connected with the adjacent end of said spring, and means for rotatively adjusting said last. mentioned cap member relative to said casin 6. A bumper comprising an impact mefnber. a supporting member adapted for attachment to a vehicle frame and comprising a housin a spindle extending axially of said housing. an arm journaled onisaid spindle. and pivotall v connected with said impact member. a spring mounted in said housing and fixed at one end to said arm. a normally non-rotative member mounted on said spindle and engaging said housing through the medium of interlocking teeth. said last; mentioned member having fixed connection with the opposite end of said spring. and adapted for rotative adjustment relative to said housin 7. A bumper tomprising an impact memher. a supporting member adaptedfor attaehment to a vehicle frame a ml comprising a housing. a spindle extending axially of said honsing.a rotativocap member journaled at one end of said housing and on said spindle. and having a radially extending arm pivotallvconnected with said impact member. a cap member journaled on said spindle aml engaging the opposite ends of said rasing by means of a series of interlm-king teeth. a spring mounted in said housing and tixed at its ends to said cap member. the latter being adapted for rotative adj ustnient.

H. ln-a bumper. the combination of an impact member. a supporting member adapted for attachment to the frame of a vehicle t'tillllitls'lltg an arm-adapted to swing relative to said supporting member. yielding means resisting the swinging movement of said arm. a link pivotally connected at one ml with said arm. and at its opposite end with said impact member. and means for limiting the relative movement of said arm and link.

it. In a bumper. the combination of an impa t member. supporting members adaptt' l l'or attachment to the lranuol' a vehicle.

caeh comprising an arm. a link pivotallv r-onuected with said arm and with said impact member. a spring arting to resist the swinging movement of said arm. aml means l' r limiting the relative movenn-nt of said arm and link comprising co-acting stop members carried by said arm and link.

10. In a bumper, the combination of an means for limiting the relative movemmm of impact member, supporting members adaptsaid arm and link comprising a lug mu: in ed for attachment to the frame of a vehicle, by said arm amino-acting atop Jammin an 5) each comprising an arm, a link pivotally riecl by said link.

5 connected with said arm and with said im- In witness whereof, I hcruuntv subspact member, means for ymldably reslstlng my name thls lstdax o1 Marc-h. A. D i .21 the s'wlngmg movement of said arm. and LEROY BAUMGA HTL. 

